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A Renovated Husky Stadium

Official Review by Scott Bultman, Stadium Journey Special Correspondent

Husky Stadium, home to Washington Huskies football is one of the most picturesque stadiums in division one football. Located on the edge of Lake Washington, the views are fantastic. The Cascade Mountains and Mt. Rainier are visible in certain areas of the stadium. A renovated Husky Stadium has fans excited to see Washington football and the changes at the stadium. Washington football has been played at Husky Stadium since 1920. In late 2011, the Huskies began a $250 million dollar renovation to add more seating, a bigger scoreboard, and other fan amenities. The stadium reopened in 2013 and fans enjoy better amenities and better seating choices.
Washington football began play in 1889 and has a rich tradition of football excellence. The Huskies have won 15 Pac-12 titles and two national championships. Huskies fans have had a lot to cheer about over the years. Their 1991 team is considered one of the better teams in college football history. Since the early 2000’s, Huskies fans haven’t had much to cheer about but are hopeful that they can relive the glory days again.

4.0

What is FANFARE?

The FANFARE scale is our metric device for rating each stadium experience. It covers the following:

Food & Beverage

Atmosphere

Neighborhood

Fans

Access

Return on Investment

Extras

Each area is rated from 0 to 5 stars with 5 being the best. The overall composite score is the "FANFARE Score".

Food & Beverage
4

The standard food and drink options are what you would expect at a collegiate football game. Fare such as hot dogs, hamburgers, nachos, and popcorn are served at various points around the stadium. Five dollars for a generic hot dog made me think twice about not eating outside before the game. The best value for standard stadium fare is the five dollar Bavarian pretzel. This behemoth comes salted or unsalted and is a meal by itself. After having a hot dog as well as a couple beverages before the game, I couldn't finish it. Coca-Cola products are served at Husky Stadium and will set you back four or five dollars depending on the size. Starbucks coffee is served for four dollars. It is Seattle after all, Starbucks is a Washington staple. Alcohol is not served in the general seating areas. There are a very limited amount of areas that serve alcohol, a 500 person standing room area and suites.

For students who are budget conscious, there is a stand behind the student section which sells food at a discount. Sorry non students, you must have a student ID to purchase food from this stand. Good news for fans, credit/debit cards are accepted at most stands.

There are some unique foods offered here that aren't seen at many stadiums. Food from local restaurants such as pizzas, clam chowder, bbq sandwiches, and salmon burgers are offered. The prices at these stands are not for the budget-conscious but the food quality looks good and you seem to get what you pay for. The clams and chips look delicious and the street tacos aren't something you see at most college football stadiums. Washington is following a trend of newer or renovated stadiums who look to give fans the total experience when it comes to food. The Zone is located behind the east end zone and has local favorites. This area has longer lines but the quality of food choices makes it a worthwhile wait.

There are four different styles of club seating which has much better food options than those sitting in regular seats. These seats are suite style with different food options in an enclosed, private setting. New to the stadium is the Touchdown Terrace. This seating area is ground level by the east end zone. Having a meal while watching a player score a touchdown in front of you would be a unique experience.

Atmosphere
4

The atmosphere at Husky Stadium is unique. Lake Washington can be seen from the upper deck. Boats, yachts, and kayaks can be seen at the edge of the lake. In the distance, the Seattle skyline can be seen from the upper deck. The Space Needle is an interesting looking building and fun to look at it and the skyline during breaks on the field.

There is not a bad seat to be had in the lower bowl. Most seats there are close to the action. The new and expanded east end zone section has spacious seating and amenities close by including the Zone. Seats in the upper bowl are good for blocking out the sun at times and have a good vantage point. Both upper decks have a roof on them which blocks the sun and keeps the crowd noise from leaving the stadium. The seating pitch is good and you won't have any trouble looking over the person in front of you. There is plenty of legroom as well. The one downside to the upper bowl seats is the fact that they are steep. Some of the steepest seats I have seen. When we got to our seats, it felt like we had just climbed Mount Rainier. Looking at the seating configuration from ground level, the upper deck seating area is a sight to be seen.

Neighborhood
5

Husky Stadium is located on the Washington campus and there is plenty to do around the stadium. Tailgating is prevalent around the stadium. It is not uncommon to see rows and rows of RV's or minivans with tables full of food. Fans are friendly and are willing to let you in on their fun and vice versa. Within a minute of setting up, our neighbors offered us a trip to their food table and in turn, we shared some of ours with them. The prerequisite adult beverage games are played as well as family friendly games such as football and hackey sack.

As with most college towns, there are plenty of good restaurants, bars, and coffee shops nearby. Husky Stadium is deep into the campus so walking anywhere before the game will require a bit of a walk. On the other hand, parking close to the restaurants for a bite to eat is cheaper than parking near the stadium. The tree lined streets make for a nice walk to and from the stadium.

Most restaurants are a mile walk to the stadium. Perfect for walking off the calories consumed beforehand. Big Time Brewery and Alehouse is a good spot. Known for their pizzas and beer choices, it is a popular pregame hangout. The Ram Brewery and Restaurant is a popular choice as well. Due to its close proximity to the stadium, it fills up in a hurry.

Fans
4

The fans here are among the loudest in college football. The slanted design of the seating areas along the sidelines keep the noise in the stadium. The design is similar to Century Link Field, home of the Seahawks. Fans at Husky Stadium seem into the game at all times and cheer or get loud at the appropriate times. When the opposition has the ball on a third down, it is deafening inside. At a game in 1992, Huskies fans set a record for cheering at 130+ decibels. These levels wreak havoc on the opposition and even cause fans to cover their ears at times.

The wave originated from Husky Stadium and is seen quite often during the game. The chant of "Go Huskies" is done by one area of the stadium yelling GO!! And the other side responding with HUSKIES!!!! Outside of these two things, there isn't much else that's unique here. One point worth mentioning, the fans were in their seats at game time and the seating areas were full at that time. Most places see fans and students amble in midway through the first quarter after an extended tailgating session.

Access
4

It is very easy to get to a game at Husky stadium. The light rail does not go to the Washington campus but there are plenty of other options. If taking your car to the stadium, there is plenty of parking to be had ranging from $10-$40 dollars. The $40 dollar spots are right next to the sports complex and may be worth it if tailgating. The cheaper spots are in residential neighborhoods and are worth it if wanting to grab a bite to eat before the game. Traffic can be heavy after the game so park with a good exit strategy in mind. I-5 can be packed after the game.

If you are a fan of transit, the Sound Transit system has you covered. There are quite a few bus routes to the game from varying points in Seattle. After the game, dozens of buses line the streets outside the stadium. Lines can get long but there are plenty of bus choices for everyone. Taxi cabs are another good way to get to and from the stadium but can be costly. The most unique way is to take a boat to the stadium. Fans can dock their boats and walk in or get ferried onto the stadium grounds. Some fans use the waterway as a means of transportation while others use the water as a place to watch the games on television. This water scene reminds me of AT&T Park in San Francisco.

Return on Investment
4

As with any stadium experience, you get what you pay for at Husky Stadium. If wanting great seats near the field, you will pay an expensive but fair price for it. Want to be wined and dined? You will pay a fair but expensive price for it. Want a good meal and an inexpensive ticket? That option is there as well. The renovation of the stadium has given fans lots of choices on how to spend their game day experience. Tickets are fairly priced as are the concessions. Ticket prices are higher for bigger games. Outside of sitting at the top of the upper deck, there aren't many bad seats in Husky Stadium.

Extras
3

Bonus points are awarded for the views at and around Husky Stadium. Having water transportation to a major collegiate stadium is only seen here and at Neyland Stadium in Tennessee. Seeing the lake in the background is a nice touch. The stadium fits in well with its college surroundings.

Another nice extra is the variety of food offerings at the stadium. If only in Seattle for a weekend, it is a good way to try a local specialty without taking the time to go to a restaurant.

Final Thoughts

Washington Huskies fans, students, and alumni have a renovated gem to be proud of. The fans are loud and passionate and make things tough on the opposition. Going to a game at Husky Stadium feels like a day well spent with so many dining choices and things to see around it. Some stadiums are surrounded by parking lots which makes for a business like game day experience. Husky Stadium is anything but business like. If you haven't been back to Husky Stadium since the remodel, you are missing out. The improvements certainly show and the experience is unique.

"Watergating"

I'm looking forward to my trip back to Seattle in a couple of weeks, however, as of August 30, 2014, Baylor's McLane Stadium can be added to the list of water transportation stadiums.

Crowd Reviews

Husky Stadium

Total Score: 3.86

A college football program can be the heart of a University. It is the driving force for school spirit and the breeding ground for die-hard fans. But if the team is the heart of the program, then the stadium they play in, is the soul.

For the Washington Huskies, Husky Stadium is the crown jewel of the campus located right on the edge of Lake Washington with stunning views of the Cascades, including Mt. Rainier.

But even the view wasn't enough to distract me from the towering stands which bear down on the turf field. With over 20,000 seats in the upper deck alone, Husky Stadium is one of the most intimidating stadiums in college football.

But before we get into the details of what makes Husky Stadium great, we have to establish a system to base it on.

New stadium

Total Score: 1.71

Looks new, smells new, but feels cheap. The slants are horrible and many isles literally only allow 1 person at a time so you have to wait to go up or down if someone else happens to be walking. The top concourse shakes as though it is metal bleachers and gives an uncomfortable feeling that it is going to collapse. The top concourses also DO NOT have bathrooms. They have to go down to 2nd concourse to find bathrooms which causes for extremely long lines. Poor, poor, design.

It is fitting that it is in Seattle near Boeing, because you'll feel like you're in an airplane the way they try to pack everyone in the seats.

Parking costs are outrageous. More than in Hawaii and the cost of living in Hawaii is at least double of Seattle. $40 to park a car about a mile down the road.

Fans are nice and loud though.

Go Dawgs

Total Score: 3.14

Ive sat in seats from 19th row on ground level up to 300 level throughout the years, and Ive never had a bad seat except for maybe once with a handrail in partial sight line sitting in row 1 seat 1 200 level. There has always been a space between teh stands and field with the track present, but its all new now! Track is gone and its a much "closer" feel! Going to be even louder than it was! Stadium is typical , old construction, modern upgrades. Spacious bathrooms, and lots of them is plus. Vendors normal terrible high prices, and souvenirs are ridiculously ncaa gear prices too unfortunately. But the experience is wonderful. Only bad time ive ever had is when i was surrounded by college kids drunk and loud, obviously fueled up before the game because beer is not sold at game. but that was only once. Parking at the game has gone up but was only $30 and the walk is short. Much more kid friendly than a seahawks game.